tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27252507470992357542017-07-27T08:35:42.267-04:00Mr. Rogers' NeighborhoodThe people of Michigan's 8th Congressional District deserve better than Mike Rogers.
<br><br>Here is where the change begins.quaker21noreply@blogger.comBlogger292125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-40144606727412775842012-01-23T09:16:00.006-05:002012-01-23T10:19:06.560-05:00Save Our Ship<div>Earlier this month, the world watched in horror as the Costa Concordia cruise ship veered off course and capsized after hitting a rock. The multimillion-dollar ship was huge and impressive; no one had thought to question its safety before the accident. The captain, who had absolute control, chose to ignore reality. </div><div><br /></div><div>With Steve Israel at the helm this cycle, the DCCC's resemblance to the Costa Concordia is getting stronger by the minute. </div><div><br /></div>A quick glance at the <a href="http://dccc.org/pages/redtoblue">Red to Blue 2012</a> list shows that the D-Trip is once again tying its own shoelaces together, ignoring viable candidates who stand up for their beliefs.<div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><a href="http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2012/01/will-dccc-blow-democrats-chances-of-re.html">Down With Tyranny</a> talked with Joshua Grossman at Progressive Kick, who defines "swing district" in a very different way: as "</span><i style="font-size: 100%; ">an assessment of the district itself</i><span style="font-size: 100%; ">, not the strength of the incumbent in the district." Grossman pointed out that only 154 seats have been rated as Strong Dem -- well short of the 218 seats needed for a majority. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Progressive Kick included MI-08's own <b>Lance Enderle</b> in its list of swing districts to watch:</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><div style="font-style: normal; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 204); "><blockquote>Other excellent targets on the list include Charlie Upton (MI-6), Mike Rogers (MI-8) and Frank Guinta (NH-1), being challenged by, respectively, progressives John Waltz,<b> Lance Enderle</b> and Carol Shea-Porter, independent-minded grassroots Democrats whom Steve Israel fears.</blockquote></span> </div></div></div><div style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Keep MI-08 from running aground in 2012 -- steer us away from those treacherous Rogers reefs and </span><a href="http://www.lance2012.com/contribute/" style="font-size: 100%; ">support Lance Enderle</a>.</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-35138346131388159942010-09-28T08:18:00.005-04:002010-09-28T08:53:27.002-04:00Job Killer on the Loose!<span class="Apple-style-span" >Mike Rogers really enjoys talking about "defending" small business from the "job-killing" actions taken by the oogey-boogey Democrats:</span><div><ul><li><a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=621">"Health Bill's Taxes, Regulations [sic] Kills Jobs"</a></li><li><a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=645">"EPA 'Cap and Trade' Regulations are Job-Killers"</a></li><li><a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=622">"Job Killer Health Bill By-the-Numbers"</a></li><li>and, of course, the tanning tax that <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/tan-mageddon.html">"kills jobs, hurts women and college students."</a></li></ul></div><div>Leaving aside the healthy dose of hyperbole -- and the fact that Michigan has lost roughly 860,000 jobs since Mr. Rogers first went to Washington in 2000 -- you'd think that he would be willing to support a bill that supports small business.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, you'd be wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers voted AGAINST the<span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=539&amp;chamber=H&amp;congress=1112">Small Business Lending Funding Act of 2010</a> (H.R. 539). </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><blockquote>The House concurred in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5297, to create the Small Business Lending Fund Program to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to make capital investments in eligible institutions in order to<b> increase the availability of credit for small businesses</b> and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to <b>provide tax incentives for small business job creation</b>, by a yea-and-nay vote of 237 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 539. <i>[emphasis added]</i></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">While it's a safe bet that Mr. Rogers will come up with some emotion-filled excuse for saying no, the fact is that America's small businesses in a tough situation. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">At a Federal Reserve meeting in July 2010, <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/duke20100712a.htm">Fed Governor Elizabeth A. Duke</a> discussed the importance of support for small business in a larger context: </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; "><blockquote>Finding solutions to small business financing issues is not only an important component of the economic recovery, it is also important to the restoration of communities that have been hard-hit by foreclosures and job losses.</blockquote></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In other words, when small businesses get a little help with financing, they can hire more people.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >When you see Mr. Rogers,* be sure to ask him why he voted against small business owners and private sector job creation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >*Just kidding! You won't be seeing Mr. Rogers in the district this fall unless you pay for the privilege. He's too busy to talk to actual voters... or his opponent, </span><a href="http://www.lanceenderleforcongress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Lance Enderle</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >.</span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-75349955454374540842010-09-21T07:26:00.002-04:002010-09-21T08:07:10.889-04:00Do's and Don'tsAs we get closer to election time (six weeks from today!), it's worth remembering what Mr. Rogers has -- and hasn't -- been doing in Washington.<div><br /></div><div>On the "Do" side, Mike Rogers has been:</div><div><ul><li>enjoying <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/06/breakfast-of-fundraising-champions.html">breakfast</a>, <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/06/because-million-just-isnt-enough.html">lunch</a>, <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/pol/N00009668/">happy hours and 80s nights</a>,</li><li>working hard to help <a href="http://www.nrcc.org/default.asp?id=274&amp;newsid=1344">GOP incumbents keep their jobs</a>, </li><li>hosting a "safer, friendlier and more balanced"<a href="http://gamepolitics.com/2010/06/23/capitol-hill-scene-family-game-night-tonight"> video game night</a>,</li><li>writing nice <a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=695">letters to Tom Izzo</a>, </li><li><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/2010/08/05/rep-mike-rogers-war-does-kill-people-wikileaked-information-kills-people/">appearing on TeeVee</a> multiple times, and </li><li>standing up for the <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/tan-mageddon.html">tanning salon</a> industry.</li></ul></div><div>On the "Don't" side, Mike Rogers said no to </div><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=30588&amp;can_id=8751">extending unemployment benefits</a>,</li><li><a href="http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=23246&amp;can_id=8751">children's health insurance</a> (for the fifth time),</li><li>the stimulus bill (<i>after</i> he added <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/03/collegiality-livingston-county-style.html">$17.6 million</a> to it),</li><li><a href="http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2010/h/375">increasing available credit for small businesses</a>, and </li><li>allowing the FDA to <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/04/tobacco-road.html">restrict tobacco sales to minors.</a></li></ul></div><div>Seems to me that Mr. Rogers has been in Washington a little too long -- after ten years, he thinks his job is to represent special interests instead of Michigan interests.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Want a representative who will actually represent us?</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Vote for <a href="http://www.lanceenderleforcongress.com/">Lance Enderle</a> on November 2nd.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-44317543523634265762010-08-05T16:54:00.005-04:002010-08-05T17:42:20.264-04:00Not So FunnyThe Neighborhood knows that Mr. Rogers shows up on Fox and MSNBC with great regularity. Once the camera light comes on, he starts in with the scary, drama-filled and highly conditional phrases (See <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/gimme-i-gimme-r-gimme-a-and-n.html">Iran</a>, <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/30/759885/-Mike-Rogers:-Legislative-Malpractice">evidence-based medicine</a>, <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/tan-mageddon.html">tanning salons</a>). <div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers' latest rant: advocating the death penalty for alleged Wikileaker Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div>That's right -- the guy who kept his mouth firmly shut when the Vice President of the United States and assorted other turd blossoms deliberately exposed the identity of a covert CIA operations officer as political payback is now baying for the blood of someone who leaked information about the not-so-great inside story of the Afghan War.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Mr. Rogers' penchant for drama, residents of MI-08 can also see their congressman on <a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/2010/08/05/rep-mike-rogers-war-does-kill-people-wikileaked-information-kills-people/">Comedy Central</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Too bad there's nothing funny about a hyper-partisan, hypocritical representative.</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-21707363797932198782010-07-31T20:13:00.002-04:002010-07-31T20:27:26.970-04:00Do the Write ThingThe Neighborhood is pretty excited about Tuesday's primary! On August 3rd, the voters of MI-08 have a chance to make history by writing in Lance Enderle as the Democratic candidate for Congress.<div><br /></div><div>Long story short, the original candidate quit in June -- too late to have his name removed from the ballot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lance registered to run as a write-in, because he believes that </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', helvetica, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 13px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.65em; "></p><blockquote><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.65em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">After a long dark decade of living in "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood", the good people of Michigan's 8th District deserve much better than this.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.65em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">They must have a REAL choice at the ballot box on November 2n</span>d</p></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Learn more at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/7/31/889302/-Lance-Enderle:-Do-the-Write-Thing-in-MI-08Please-rec!!">Daily</a> <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/7/31/889173/-MI-08:-PLEASE-REC!!-Underdog-Race-of-the-Year-in-MI-08!!">Kos</a> (please rec both posts) and <a href="http://lanceenderleforcongress.com/">Lance's website</a>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="http://lanceenderleforcongress.com/contribute/">Donate to Lance's campaign</a> -- he's not taking any PAC money.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">Promote his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=719363221&amp;v=wall&amp;story_fbid=147052615307046#!/group.php?gid=128155437216457&amp;v=wall&amp;ref=ts">Facebook page</a> to your friends.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; ">And definitely do the write thing on August 2nd: <a href="http://lanceenderleforcongress.com/write_in_voting">write in Lance Enderle</a>!</span></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-27785407559385444952010-07-20T16:26:00.002-04:002010-07-20T17:01:44.562-04:00Reflexive ResponseFar from being idle in DeeCee, Mr. Rogers has been busy saying "no" to some pretty common-sense bills, and his knee-jerk opposition is just, well, jerky.<div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers voted against the <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=447&amp;chamber=H&amp;congress=1112">Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act</a>, which pretty much <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:1:./temp/~bdJxVR:@@@L&amp;summ2=m&amp;|/home/LegislativeData.php|">does what it says: </a>extends authorization for the national flood insurance program and identifies "priorities essential to reform and ongoing stable functioning of the program."</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps Mr. Rogers needs a peek at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/femaNews/disasterSearch.do">FEMA's list of 2010 flood disaster</a> declarations, which sadly is a long one, to reinforce the importance of the federal flood insurance program.</div><div><br /></div><div>Michiganders are lucky to have escaped the severe flooding that affected nineteen states and Puerto Rico so far this year, but that doesn't mean we think more efficient federal flood insurance is a bad idea...</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers also voted against the <a href="http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=441&amp;chamber=H&amp;congress=1112">Telework Improvements Act</a>, which would</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><blockquote>set standards for federal employees working remotely. It would require the head of each federal agency to establish and implement a policy that would allow employees to work remotely as much as possible without diminishing agency operations or performance.</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">My guess for his no vote: he can't understand why <i>anyone</i> would want to work from home instead of on Capitol Hill. (The dinners! The happy hours! The PAC money!) We all know that Mr. Rogers is none too fond of being in Michigan, since he has to pretend he likes talking with constituents.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: HELVETICA, ARIAL; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div>The bottom line: Mike Rogers doesn't represent anyone but himself.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>If you'd like someone to represent</b><i><b> you</b></i><b> for a change,</b> <b>write in </b><a href="http://www.lanceenderleforcongress.com/"><b>Lance Enderle</b></a><b> for Congress on the August 3rd primary ballot August 3rd. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>We'll all be glad we did!</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-67748545696731188832010-07-02T08:42:00.000-04:002010-07-02T08:43:57.457-04:00Rogers: tax worse than cancer and mustard gas<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-7MGrm8dQU/TC3ebThOB2I/AAAAAAAADQ4/fAi-gIi5EZ8/s1600/melanoma3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 226px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1-7MGrm8dQU/TC3ebThOB2I/AAAAAAAADQ4/fAi-gIi5EZ8/s400/melanoma3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489288081511941986" /></a><br /><a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2009/01/p-as-tradition-of-rogerss-cheerleading.html">The Rogers Newsletter</a>, AKA the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, carried a Mike Rogers press release today entitled <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100702/NEWS01/7020308/Political+Notebook++State+Rep.+Rogers+featured+in+series">“U.S. Rep. Rogers: Get your tan now”</a> about the 10 percent tax on tanning beds that went into effect on July 1 as part of the <a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2010/03/passage-of-historic-health-insurance.html">historic health care insurance reform passed last March</a>.<br /><br />The Brighton Republican says “the 10 percent tax "kills jobs, hurts women (and) college students." Perhaps someone should tell Mr. Rogers about the harm caused by tanning beds to women and college students, as well as men and non-college students. <br /><br />In fact, experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, “<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-07-28-tanning-cancer_N.htm">moved tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category</a>, deeming them as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas."<br /><br />The good news is they will now have health care to treat the cancer, and people can no longer be denied health care coverage because of the pre-existing condition of cancer.Communications guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15039487955952973487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-76548871050852035862010-07-02T08:20:00.002-04:002010-07-02T08:51:06.553-04:00Tan-mageddon!Summer is in full swing, so Mr. Rogers has shifted his Doom'n'Gloom pronouncements from health care to tanning salons.<div><br /></div><div>That's right: the new health care reform bill included a 10% tax on tanning salons, which went into effect yesterday. The tax is expected to raise $2.7 billion over the next decade.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers promptly sent out a <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100702/NEWS01/7020308">press release</a> screaming that the tax would</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></p><blockquote><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "> "kill[s] jobs, hurt[s] women (and) <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100702/NEWS01/7020308#" target="_blank" itxtdid="6501630" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent !important; line-height: normal; text-align: left; position: static !important; display: inline; font-family: inherit !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; font-weight: normal !important; font-size: 12px; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; border-bottom-width: 0.075em !important; ">college</a> students."<span class="aa"></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="pp"></span>"In Michigan, where we've lost more jobs than any other state and led the nation in unemployment for more than four years, this tax is another job-killing burden on small businesses," Rogers said.<span class="aa"></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="pp"></span>"The tax targets a service provided by mostly small entrepreneurs, many of them women, and it unfairly hits working women and college students, who make up the majority of tanning customers," he added.</p></blockquote><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></p></span></div><div>Awww! Mr. Rogers is sticking up for working women and college students! (Do you feel all warm and fuzzy yet?)</div><div><br /></div><div>Funny, but Mr. Rogers didn't worry about college students when he compromised their <a href="http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/13242/">voting rights</a> or voted to keep big banks skimming the <a href="http://maplight.org/us-congress/bill/111-hr-3221/379532/history">student loan</a> process.</div><div><br /></div><div>Come to think of it, he hasn't shown too much concern for workers, small business owners or women's health, either...</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers' drama aside, will the new tax hurt the tanning industry?</div><div> </div><div>An <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/tanning-bed-danger-salons-downplay-cancer-risk/story?id=9207094">ABC news report</a> finds that </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><blockquote>no one thinks a few extra dollars is going to come between diehard tanners and their bronzing. Legislators in favor of the new tax cited health concerns. The industry itself, however, couldn't be healthier.</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">This is just another example of Mr. Rogers' Olympic-level ability to bring the tears and sell the trauma from a piece of legislation he doesn't like.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div>Mike Rogers has been in Washington for ten years now -- and our state has lost nearly 800,000 jobs. The next time he starts in on the "job-killing" rant, let's ask him exactly what he's done to grow jobs in Michigan. </div><div><br /></div><div>Want a REAL representative in 2010? </div><div><br /></div><div>Write in <a href="http://www.lanceenderleforcongress.com/">Lance Enderle for Congress</a> on August 3rd, and let the sun shine in!</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-33223696187054383472010-06-25T08:55:00.004-04:002010-06-25T10:43:30.215-04:00Where's the Representation?It's been a busy week for Mr. Rogers! <div><br /></div><div>Immediately sharing his thoughts on Gen. McChrystal's Rolling Stone interview with <a href="http://www.bloggingformichigan.com/diary/5780/rep-mike-rogers-mcchrystals-insults-are-president-obamas-fault">MSNBC</a> and the <a href="“you can’t have military commanders out there working against the policy of presidents, even if they’re wrong.”">Press &amp; Argus</a>, Mr. Rogers intoned </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></p><blockquote>“you can’t have military commanders out there working against the <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100624001#" target="_blank" itxtdid="20352659" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent !important; line-height: normal; text-align: left; position: static !important; display: inline; font-family: inherit !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; font-weight: normal !important; font-size: 12px; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; border-bottom-width: 0.075em !important; ">policy</a> of presidents, even if they’re wrong. “That’s my job,” the Brighton Republican and Army veteran said</blockquote><p></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">Now, you may have thought that Mr. Rogers' job was to represent his constituents in Washington. </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">Oh, you big silly!</span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">In addition to working against the policies of the President of the United States of America, Mr. Rogers has many serious responsibilities in DeeCee. </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">For example, on Wednesday he co-hosted the first <a href="http://gamepolitics.com/2010/06/23/capitol-hill-scene-family-game-night-tonight">Capitol Hill Family Game Night</a> to educate families on </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; "></span></p><blockquote>“how to enjoy video games and online media in ways that are safer, healthier and more balanced.”</blockquote></span><p></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">Don't worry -- Mr. Rogers is working on lots of other crucial issues, too:</span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "> * he wrote a <a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=695">letter to MSU basketball coach Tom Izzo</a> imploring him to stay in Michigan</span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "> * he continues to run his cash-raising machine with <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/pol/N00009668/">a string of foodie fundraisers</a> </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "> * he voted <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-5175">against H.R. 5175</a>, which would </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Free Serif', 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; "></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><blockquote>prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections</blockquote></span><p></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; "> * last but not least, he voted <a href="http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=30588&amp;can_id=8751">against H.R. 4213</a>, which extended unemployment benefits and provided tax relief for individuals and businesses. </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">Got all that? </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; ">Michigan has led the nation in unemployment since April 2006 (as of last month, we slipped to Number 2, <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm">behind Nevada</a>). We've lost nearly 800,000 jobs since Mr. Rogers first went off to Washington. </span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Given Michigan's devastated economy, why does Mr. Rogers think it's more important to work against the President, fight government transparency, screw over the unemployed and keep video games safe for families?</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">The bad news: this is just more proof that Mike Rogers doesn't give a rat's patootie about MI-08. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">The good news: you have a choice this year! </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">East Lansing educator <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Lance-Enderle/621878169#!/group.php?gid=128155437216457">Lance Enderle</a> has filed to be the write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination in the August 3rd primary. </span></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;">Write him in, and see the difference a REAL representative can make!</span></span></p><p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></p></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-59150453367953819352010-06-16T09:28:00.002-04:002010-06-16T09:40:36.879-04:00Breakfast of (Fundraising) ChampionsA major shout-out to <a href="http://www.thatsmycongress.com">That's My Congress</a> for today's post, <a href="http://thatsmycongress.com/index.php/2010/06/16/mike-rogers-breakfasts-with-lobbyists/">"Mike Rogers Breakfasts With Lobbyists"</a> <div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; ">Michigan’s <a href="http://thatsmycongress.com/house/repRogersMI8111.html" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(181, 10, 10); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Mike Rogers</a> doesn’t live like you and I do. While we get up and pour ourselves a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast, Congressman Rogers goes out to eat his breakfast. Rogers doesn’t go to just any old place for his bacon and eggs either. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); line-height: 18px; ">[skip]</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; ">An invitation sent out by the Mike Rogers re-election campaign asks individuals attending the breakfast to come with at between 500 and 1,000 dollars to give to Rogers. Political Action Committees seeking some attention from Rogers are being charged between 1,000 and 2,000 dollars.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; ">Where I come from, we don’t charge people thousands of dollars for the privilege of sitting at our breakfast table. Of course, where I come from, no one sits on a powerful congressional committee that has influence over government regulations. Mike Rogers does have that kind of position, and it seems that he’s willing to take a good deal of money from lobbyists in order to keep his hold on power secure.</span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma; color: rgb(101, 94, 70); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "></span></div></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-74979402812792677632010-06-15T14:08:00.003-04:002010-06-15T18:21:26.344-04:00Pick a SideHere in The Neighborhood, we know that Mr. Rogers is a <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/02/party-time.html">superduper awesome fundraiser</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Did you know that he's been working just as hard to protect American jobs?<div><br /></div><div>Well, as long as the jobs belong to American Republican Representatives, anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since becoming Incumbent Retention Chair for the NRCC in 2009, Mr. Rogers has working hard to protect GOP incumbents, meeting weekly with party leaders and individual members.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>[Wouldn't it be great if Mr. Rogers spent this kind of time focusing on jobs for his constituents?]</div><div><br /></div><div>All that hard work paid off, I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div>At a PAC briefing yesterday, Mr. Rogers was </div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">telling attendees that the committee's work had already shielded a substantial group of members from facing any serious challenge in 2010.</span><p></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"A year and a half ago, I was giving you the names of 30 members and you know what? It worked," Rogers said, according to a source familiar with his remarks. "We feel strongly at this point that only nine incumbents need your help to withstand the attacks by the DCCC and their allies."</span></p></blockquote><p>Gee, Mr. R., that's epic!</p><p>Maybe now that you've fixed the jobs situation for Republican politicians -- not to mention <a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=695">Tom Izzo</a> -- you could pay a wee bit of attention to the job situation for the people who live in your district.</p><p></p></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-41187549989466669182010-06-10T12:39:00.004-04:002010-06-13T10:16:14.586-04:00Because a Million Just Isn't Enough...Mike Rogers just can't stop raising money for his campaign, even though he no longer has an opponent.<div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, Mr. Rogers wined and dined (literally) at <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/party/21359/">his luncheon for the telecom industry</a> at the Sonoma Restaurant &amp; Wine Bar. </div><div><br /></div><div>The restaurant, where the main floor is </div><div></div><blockquote><div>a bustling, upscale casual bistro inspired by the neighborhood<i> enotecas</i> found throughout Italy</div></blockquote><div>and the second floor </div><div><div><blockquote>Avenue Lounge is an airy, elegant, modern space, and is perfect for large cocktail parties, fundraisers, product launches, and personal events up to 125 guests.</blockquote></div></div><div>has been named Washington's Best Wine Bar (2010) and was the runner-up for Best Charcuterie Plate (2009).</div><div><br /></div><div>Did I mention the ticket prices for this little get-together?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(34, 34, 34); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Corbel, Tahoma, Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="detail_head" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(76, 79, 84); font-family:inherit;font-size:12px;"></span><blockquote><span class="detail_head" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;color:initial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Contribution Information</span></span></b></span><span class="detail_head" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border- font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; font-family:inherit;color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">$2,000 PAC Co-Host; $1,000 Individual Co-Host; $1,000 PAC; $500 Individual</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"></span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">such</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a relief to know that Mr. Rogers isn't slumming it.</span></span></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-56839632072545247082010-05-11T16:18:00.005-04:002010-05-11T16:59:30.619-04:00Jobs for Michigan?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A quick review of </span></span><a href="http://fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapHSCandDetail.do?election_yr=2010&amp;detailType=cand&amp;cand_id=H0MI08042&amp;category=disH&amp;stateName=MI&amp;congressId=08"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Rogers' fundraising</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> for the first quarter of 2010 shows that he's been pretty busy: taking in just over a million dollars ($1,018,397 to be precise) and spending only $319,151. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Where did the money go? Well, </span></span><a href="http://fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshContributorList.do?election_yr=2010&amp;cand_id=H0MI08042&amp;detailType=cand&amp;contComeFrom=candDetail&amp;contCategory=OTHERDISB&amp;category=disH&amp;stateName=MI&amp;congressId=08"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">$40,000</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> went to the Michigan Republican Party. There are also operating expenses, like website development, payroll services, e-commerce vendors, fundraising and direct-response firms... We could talk for hours about the role of money in politics, but like it or not, these types of expenses are pretty standard for a Congressional campaign.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What's not so standard? A Congressman from the state with the nation's highest unemployment rate spends quite a bit on out-of-state businesses. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mr. Rogers has hired a </span></span><a href="http://www.maelstromsolutions.com/Home.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wisconsin web developer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, an </span></span><a href="http://www.paychex.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Illinois payroll company</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, a </span></span><a href="http://www.scmassoc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">New Hampshire direct mail/telemarketer</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and a </span></span><a href="http://www.completecampaigns.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">California software vendor</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to assist his re-election campaign. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's a little hard to believe that there are no Michigan businesses providing these services.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, san-serif;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-79191426900337884682010-05-05T09:15:00.003-04:002010-05-05T09:53:59.039-04:00Opposite WorldMr. Rogers was in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmHz89Yk3pw">full bloviation mode</a> this week, pontificating about the "failure" of the Obama administration to have prevented the Times Square bomber <span style="font-style:italic;">before</span> he acted.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_Report_(film)">Thought police</a>, anyone?<br /><br />If Mr. Rogers ever bothered to talk to people in his district (other than the ones who pay for the privilege), I would love to ask him a few questions:<br /><br />1.) Apparently, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/nyregion/05tictoc.html?hp">53 hours and 20 minutes</a> that elapsed from incident to arrest in this case was not good enough for FBI Guy Mike Rogers. Remind me, Mr. Rogers, where Osama bin Laden is being held in custody? Oh, wait -- he still hasn't been captured, nearly a decade after 9/11. Hmm... you've been serving on the House Intel Committee since you first went to Washington a decade ago. Coincidence?<br /><br />2.) In that MSNBC interview, you referred to a "pattern" of "successful" bombing attempts by Faizal Shahzad (Times Square Bomber) and Umar Abdulmutallab (Underwear Bomber). Why would you define as "successful" two bombers who failed to set off their bombs? No deaths or injuries resulted from their failed attempts; both men were apprehended, taken into custody and provided significant amounts of actionable intelligence after interrogation. I personally think this is outstanding; it's not clear why you are so critical of the efforts of professional law enforcement personnel.<div><br /></div><div>3.) You've been railing about the dangers of a <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/if-its-on-fox-it-must-be-true.html">law-enforcement approach</a> to anti-terrorism policy, wailing about the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/5/762098/-Full-of-Sound-and-Fury,-Signifying-Nothing">Scary Terrorists</a>, and bailing on taking even a shred of responsibility for your decade of inaction on the <a href="http://intelligence.house.gov/Members.aspx?ID=27">House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence</a>. I defer to Deputy National Security Advisor <a href="http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2010/02/opposing-view-we-need-no-lectures.html?csp=34">John Brennan</a> for summing up the irresponsibility of this type of behavior: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><blockquote>Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda. Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They will, however, be dismantled and destroyed, by our military, our intelligence services and our law enforcement community. And the notion that America's counterterrorism professionals and America's system of justice are unable to handle these murderous miscreants is absurd.</blockquote></span></div><div>What have you done for us lately, Mr. Rogers?</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-17619404532523767522010-05-03T16:07:00.004-04:002010-05-04T15:15:46.306-04:00Qu'est-ce Que C'estIt's not often that Mr. Rogers brings to mind a Talking Heads song, but after reading today's <a href="http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100503/NEWS04/5030321/-1/newshome">LSJ piece</a> these lines from <i><a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/talking+heads/psycho+killer_20135071.html">Psycho Killer</a> </i>sprang to mind:<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(160, 82, 45); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You start a conversation you can't even finish it.<br />You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything.</span></blockquote></span></div><div>According to the LSJ, Mr. Rogers spent $172,764 on mass communications to two million contacts. This translates to being the 94th highest spender in the House, roughly in the top fifth for mass communications expenditures.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(160, 82, 45); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Given that there are only about </span><a href="http://proximityone.com/cd111_07rt.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">707,179</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> people in MI-08, you have to wonder who the other ~1.29 million folks are...</span></div><div><br /></div><div>You also have to ask why he is still spending money on printed mailings, why his emails are so cookie-cutter, and how much it could possibly cost to have a telephone town hall. </div><div><br /></div><div>It would be cheaper for Mr. Rogers to buy a plane ticket every few months and actually come home to talk -- in person -- with the people he represents.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(160, 82, 45); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(160, 82, 45); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(160, 82, 45); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-47929335381269085402010-04-25T19:59:00.003-04:002010-04-27T08:55:10.554-04:00Party OnIt's no wonder Mr. Rogers is so seldom home in the 8th District! He's been busy in Washington, D.C. <a href="http://politicalpartytime.org/pol/N00009668/">raising money for his campaign</a>. Thanks to all those Happy Hours, Ladies Nights and Five Guys Lunches, his campaign war chest is filling up nicely -- in the first quarter of 2010, he's taken in <a href="http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapHSCandDetail.do?election_yr=2010&amp;detailType=cand&amp;cand_id=H0MI08042&amp;category=disH&amp;stateName=MI&amp;congressId=08">over $1 million in total receipts</a>... with <a href="http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshContributorList.do?election_yr=2010&amp;contComeFrom=candList&amp;cand_id=H0MI08042&amp;contCategory=PAC&amp;category=disH&amp;stateName=MI&amp;congressId=08">more than half</a> of it coming from PACs. <div><br /></div><div>Speaking of PACs, Mr. Rogers is also busy tending to his own personal PAC, the <a href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_10+C00370791">MIKE R Fund</a> ("Majority Initiative to Keep Electing Republicans"). <a href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_supopp/2009_C00370791">MIKE R Fund has helped support</a> such Congressional luminaries as Joe "You Lie!" Wilson (R-SC) and the Republican Parties of Iowa and Louisiana.</div><div><br /></div><div>Throw in his responsibilities as <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-description.html">incumbent retention chair</a> for the <a href="http://nrcc.org/about/nrcc-leadership/">NRCC</a>, and you can totally understand why Mr. Rogers can only talk to people who are <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/prioritie.html">willing to pay</a> for the privilege.</div><div><br /></div><div>UPDATE: Yesterday's <a href="http://www.blogallovertheworld.com/2010/04/huffpost-hill-april-26-2010/">Huffpost Hill</a> also picked up the Five Guys lunch story, albeit in terms a bit less delicate than we Neighborhoodies prefer:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, tahoma, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">12:00 pm: Looking to evacuate both his guests' wallets and bowels,</span><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> hosts a "Five Guys Lunch" [National Republican Congressional Committee, 310 First Street SE].</span></blockquote><p></p></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-4378966906790028892010-04-22T10:45:00.004-04:002010-04-22T11:14:59.704-04:00The Company You Keep<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/S9BisX4QQAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/SHSMcE6lrg8/s1600/foley+rogers+still.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 175px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/S9BisX4QQAI/AAAAAAAAAOM/SHSMcE6lrg8/s320/foley+rogers+still.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462974862464139266" /></a>Remember <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Foley_congressional_page_incident">Mark Foley</a>? He was the GOP representative who, among other things, exchanged sexually explicit instant messages with teenage Congressional pages and later resigned amid questions about coverups by the House Republican leadership.<div><br /></div><div>Mr. Foley's scandal reached the 8th Congressional District when CNN ran film of Mike Rogers accompanying Mr. Foley to the White House. Both men were involved in GOP leadership and served as deputy majority whips. Mr. Rogers' assertion that he didn't socialize with Foley was weakened when it surfaced that the two men, both prodigious money-raising guys, often co-hosted fundraisers for fellow GOP incumbents and <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/3/22519/5572">held a fundraising event at Mr. Foley's home</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Old news, you say. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it turns out that Mr. Foley re-emerged last month, attending a <a href="http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/03/mark-foley-kevin-mccarty-re-emerge-for-romneys-forum-club-speech/">Palm Beach political luncheon</a> where Mitt Romney was the guest speaker. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Romney, ginning up for a possible Presidential run in 2012, has long had <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/stand-by-your-mitt.html">a pal in Mike Rogers</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mike, Mitt, and Mark -- keep your eye on these guys during the coming year. Their paths will no doubt continue to intersect in some interesting ways.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-21722399944679632802010-04-21T15:16:00.002-04:002010-04-21T16:50:11.604-04:00Prioritie$Mr. Rogers hasn't been around much lately, since he's so busy with raising <a href="http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/04/nrcc.html">record-breaking amounts of money</a> for Republican Congressional candidates. For over a year now, he's been working on the <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-description.html">NRCC Patriot Program</a> and there's no question that Mr. Rogers is really, really good at raking in the moola.<div><br /></div><div>So good, in fact, that even when he was home this week the only people he talked to were the ones who paid $30 to attend the Howell Chamber of Commerce program (Chamber members got a slight discount).</div><div><br /></div><div>Aside from coffee and muffins, what did they get for $30?</div><div><br /></div><div>They got Mike Rogers in full oogedy-boogedy mode, warning of <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20104210309">"bad omens for small business."</a> The health care reform bill (which Rogers voted against twice) will make employers "nervous." </div><div><br /></div><div>Not sure where Mr. Rogers has been, other than NRCC pep rallies -- because if he was here in the 8th Congressional District he would know that according to his own <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090724/MI8.Rogers.pdf">Energy &amp; Commerce Committee</a>, 15,100 small businesses would receive tax credits to provide employee health care coverage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers was also in a tizzy over proposed bank regulatory reforms, worrying that they would "inhibit access to capital." According to a <a href="http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2009/el2009-09.html">2009 report</a> by the Federal Reserve, small businesses were already looking at the worst credit crunch in history. Credit cards, a traditional small business tool, are no longer as helpful, since the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/business/smallbusiness/19credit.html">companies have raised their rates</a> -- and small businesses weren't included in the credit card reform legislation passed last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Turning his gaze to the wider world, Mr. Rogers shared his thoughts on the "pretty frightening" situation in Iran, and </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><blockquote>He said fear of a nuclear threat only compounds the worries of small-business owners, and that the country needs a stronger stance on the issue on the worldwide stage.</blockquote></span></div><div>Gee.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm willing to bet that if you went door-to-door on Main Street in Brighton or Grand River in Howell, and asked small business owners what was on their Top 10 List of Stuff to Worry About, Iran's nuclear threat wouldn't be on it. Probably not even on their Top 100 List, to be honest.</div><div><br /></div><div>Basically, the whole breakfast was just another episode of Rogers Kabuki Theater: he strikes a heroic pose, says the same <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/gimme-i-gimme-r-gimme-a-and-n.html">scary things about Iran</a>, pushes the same <a href="http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/15070/bad-medicine">tired health policy ideas</a> and pretends he hasn't been hanging around Washington for the past decade. It's great value for your entertainment dollar, if you like that sort of thing. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you would prefer a Representative who actually <i>wants</i> to represent you, please visit Democratic Congressional challenger <a href="http://www.kandeforcongress.com/">Kande Ngalamulume's campaign website</a>. You'll see what a real 8th District Congressman looks like.</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-49729093777375051882010-03-19T07:47:00.000-04:002010-03-19T07:49:09.496-04:00The CBO says health care bill will cut the budget deficit and cover the uninsuredThe nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released i<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/18/health.care.main/index.html?hpt=T1">ts preliminary analysis on the compromise health insurance reform bill today</a>, and it shows simply that Republicans and teabaggers have been lying for an entire year. <br /><br />Here’s what the CBO says the bill does: <br />It cuts the deficit: It cuts the deficit by $130 billion in the first 10 years (2010 - 2019), and it cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the second 10 years. <br /><br />It reduces annual growth in Medicare expenditures by 1.4 percentage points per year-while improving benefits and lowering costs for seniors. It also extends Medicare's solvency by at least nine years. It expands health insurance coverage to 32 million Americans Helps guarantee that 95 percent of Americans will be covered. It is fully paid for - costs $940 billion over a decade. (Americans spend nearly $2.5 trillion each year on health care now and nearly two-thirds of the bill's cost is paid for by reducing health care costs).<br /><br />More importantly, here’s what it will do for the residents of the 8th Congressional District. Despite those benefits, you can rest assure of two things: the lies from Republicans will continue, and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers will vote against it.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>+ Improve coverage for 505,000 residents with health insurance.<br />+ Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 150,000 families and 15,100 small businesses to help them afford coverage.<br />+ Improve Medicare for 90,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.<br />+ Extend coverage to 20,000 uninsured residents.<br />+ Guarantee that 8,100 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.<br />+ Protect 1,700 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.<br />+ Allow 63,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents' insurance plans.<br />+ Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 10 community health centers.<br />+ Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $29 million annually.</blockquote>Communications guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15039487955952973487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-43586828352101801932010-02-22T07:18:00.003-05:002010-02-22T07:37:09.262-05:00Hell: Freezing Over Yet Again!Over the years,The Neighborhood has seen some pretty conservative folks call out Mike Rogers on issues of <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/09/hell-is-in-fact-freezing-over.html">national security</a>, <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/common-ground.html">fiscal responsibility</a> and <a href="http://republicanmichigander.blogspot.com/2007/07/cant-go-along-with-this-mike.html">earmarks</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Well, it's happening again -- and this time, it's close to home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Leon Drolet, leader of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and close pal of <a href="http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/10074/">Mr. Perks the pig</a>, recently posted his take on the latest <a href="http://www.mitaxpayers.org/blog/2010/02/your-congressmans-repork-card-is-here.html">Club for Growth RePork Card</a>. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><blockquote>Congratulations to Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) for earning the only 'A' grade of all 15 Michigan congress members.<br /><br />Thaddeous McCotter (R-Livonia) earned a 'B+' and Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) received a 'B-'. <b>The only other sorta passing-ish grade went to Mike Rogers (R-Howell) who received a D+.</b></blockquote></span></div><div>We know that Mr. Rogers was <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/03/summers-coming-time-for-flip-flops.html">for the earmarks before he was against them</a> (ahem!)... nice to see that the conservatives are admitting it, too.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 4px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 4px; "><br /></span></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-5634507776674408462010-02-14T15:32:00.003-05:002010-02-14T16:37:35.945-05:00A Load of Crepes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/S3hlCDrUyII/AAAAAAAAAN8/lIshsrrOC68/s1600-h/logo_patriots.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 186px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/S3hlCDrUyII/AAAAAAAAAN8/lIshsrrOC68/s320/logo_patriots.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438207636071041154" /></a>After years of laboring on behalf of Republican Congressional candidates (first as a record-setting RNCC Finance Chair, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/16/AR2005051601334_2.html">Deputy Majority Whip</a>, campaign contributions from his <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00370791">MIKE R Fund</a>, and most recently as NRCC Incumbent Retention Chairman), Mike Rogers finally got a <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102120321">little local shout-out</a> for his efforts in maintaining and expanding the GOP presence in the House.<div><br /></div><div>The <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102120321">Press &amp; Argus</a> story describes Mr. Rogers as an "enforcer" for the NRCC; he's already been dubbed <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_2/politics/36505-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS">"Top Cop"</a> by <i>Roll Call</i> and <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11652.html">"a powerhouse fundraiser"</a> by Politico.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here in the Neighborhood, we've known about his <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/02/congressman-cardinal-or-consigliere.html">strong-arm efforts on behalf</a> of the party for quite a while. Regular readers know that Mr. Rogers is willing to give 110% when it comes to <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-description.html">retaining jobs for his GOP colleagues</a>: one-on-one meetings with at-risk incumbents to develop individualized campaign goals, weekly meetings with GOP leadership, weekly meetings with NRCC directors, and keeping close tabs on Patriot Program members, right down to the level of call time, volunteer recruitment and local press.</div><div><br /></div><div>How local, you ask? Well, Mr. Rogers has carved out time to be the headliner at next month's <a href="http://macombgop.com/2010/02/13/pancakes-and-politics-with-congressman-mike-rogers/">"Pancakes and Politics"</a> fundraiser hosted by the Macomb County Republican Party ("Aggressive - Visible - Organized").</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't help but wish that Mr. Rogers was willing to spend this kind of time and energy on the at-risk workers right here in his own district.</div><div><br /></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-69073112429319187702010-01-28T06:17:00.003-05:002010-01-28T09:11:42.018-05:00Job Losses?<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-stateofunion-mich,0,3781790.story">Mike Rogers' response</a> to President Obama's <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/State_of_the_Union/state-of-the-union-2010-president-obama-speech-transcript/story?id=9678572">State of the Union</a> address?<div><blockquote>"While Michigan families can certainly appreciate the President focusing on getting America back to work, he unfortunately continues to advance policies that will cost more jobs. His plans to create a massive new energy tax and have the government run America's health care system from <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/us/washington-dc-PLGEO100101200000000.topic" title="Washington, DC" id="PLGEO100101200000000" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(55, 104, 154); text-decoration: none; ">Washington, D.C.</a>, are both job killers." -- Rep. <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/mike-rogers-PEPLT005636.topic" title="Mike Rogers" id="PEPLT005636" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(55, 104, 154); text-decoration: none; ">Mike Rogers</a>, R-<a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/us/illinois/cook-county/chicago/brighton-park-PLGEO100100501251400.topic" title="Brighton Park" id="PLGEO100100501251400" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(55, 104, 154); text-decoration: none; ">Brighton</a>.</blockquote></div><div>Job killers? Seriously? Has Mike Rogers not noticed that his state has been <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-description.html">hemorrhaging jobs</a> since he was first elected a decade ago?</div><div><br /></div><div><div>It's hard to see how Mr. Rogers' takeaway from the speech focused on an "energy tax" and a purported "government-run" health care system. If he had been paying attention to the President, instead of sitting on his hands and looking for John Boehner's approval, Mr. Rogers might have heard some serious bipartisan points:</div><div><div><blockquote><div>Let me repeat: <b>we cut taxes</b>. We cut taxes for 95% of working families. We cut taxes for small businesses. We cut taxes for first-time homebuyers. We cut taxes for parents trying to care for their children. We cut taxes for 8 million Americans paying for college. As a result, millions of Americans had more to spend on gas, and food, and other necessities, all of which helped businesses keep more workers. And <b>we haven't raised income taxes by a single dime</b> on a single person. Not a single dime. [skip]</div><div><br /></div><div>So tonight, I'm proposing that we take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat. I am also proposing a <b>new small business tax credit</b> – one that will go to over one million small businesses who hire new workers or raise wages. While we're at it, let's also <b>eliminate all capital gains taxes on small business investment</b>; and provide a tax incentive for all businesses, large and small, to invest in new plants and equipment.[skip]</div></blockquote><div>President Obama also spoke plainly to the Republicans.</div><div><div></div><blockquote><div>From some on the right, I expect we'll hear a different argument – that if we just make fewer investments in our people, extend tax cuts for wealthier Americans, eliminate more regulations, and maintain the status quo on health care, our deficits will go away. The problem is, <b>that's what we did for eight years. That's what helped lead us into this crisis. It's what helped lead to these deficits.</b> And we cannot do it again. [skip]</div><div><br /></div><div>if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. <b>Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. </b>We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions.</div></blockquote><div></div><div>So how about it, Mr. Rogers? Step up and work for your country -- not <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/07/job-description.html">just for your party</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you can't put your politics aside for the good of the nation, then the only job loss that should make local headlines in 2010 is you own.</div></div></div></div></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-83887038629036095022010-01-05T17:13:00.002-05:002010-01-05T17:44:40.302-05:00Hot 'n' BotheredToday's <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100105/NEWS01/1050322/Rogers+rips+health-care+measures">Press &amp; Argus</a> led with a drama-filled header: "Rogers rips health-care measures"<div><br /></div><div>Oh, my.</div><div><br /></div><div>We know that Mr. Rogers doesn't trust <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/30/759885/-Mike-Rogers:-Legislative-Malpractice">evidence-based medicine</a>. He's had his fact-free rant against health care reform on Teh YooToob, while at the same time enjoying comprehensive -- not to mention <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/10/very-high-double-standards.html">convenient</a> -- health care coverage at taxpayer's expense.</div><div><br /></div><div>A closer look shows that Mr. Rogers has managed to have his health care tab picked up by taxpayers for most of his adult life, thanks to the U.S. Army, the FBI, the Michigan Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. His one foray into the private sector came via his family's business, so it's unlikely that he was getting squeezed on his premiums.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/02/hes-got-great-health-insurance-too.html">Compare Mr. Rogers' situation with that of a Michigan family</a> purchasing the cheapest available Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. (Seriously. click that link and read the details.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, Mr. Rogers continued his oogy-boogy hand-waving about the dangers of health care reform. </div><div><blockquote>"I said 'Oh, my gosh, they just sentenced to death 36,000 American women,'" he said.</blockquote></div><div>Rogers also said that the legislation wouldn't go into effect until 2013 -- but <a href="http://www.congress.org/news/2009/11/23/seven_quick_fixes_to_health_care">Congress.org</a> outlines some of the specific changes that will occur within the next year. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><blockquote>Some of the most significant changes would extend existing programs and rules in order to immediately reduce the number of uninsured Americans. Others would end unpopular practices in the private insurance industry.</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; ">Adding to the pile of silly, Rogers trotted out his "ideas" for reforming health care that <a href="http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/15070/bad-medicine">we've all heard before</a>. He also wailed about the terrible impact on businesses, an argument neatly refuted this summer by that radical magazine, <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/money_politics/archives/2009/07/study_links_ris.html">BusinessWeek</a>.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>With all due respect to the Livingston Press &amp; Argus, it would be great if their reporters fact-checked a few items before publishing Mr. Rogers' rants verbatim.</div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-76745888508716628842009-12-16T20:23:00.007-05:002009-12-17T08:27:32.443-05:00Who You Gonna Call?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/SymKDb75pVI/AAAAAAAAAN0/-p7QOffoYso/s1600-h/Ghostbusters.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iEiN3Nbk7Dk/SymKDb75pVI/AAAAAAAAAN0/-p7QOffoYso/s320/Ghostbusters.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416011818532971858" /></a>Mike Rogers is quite upset about the recent decision to <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_detainee_prison">move some Guantanamo detainees to the Thomson Correctional Center</a> in Thomson, Illinois.<div><br /></div><div>How upset, you ask?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, perhaps <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000490/">Dr. Peter Venkman</a> and his colleagues best describe Mr. Rogers' anguish.<div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000195/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Dr. Peter Venkman</a></b>: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.<br /><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0546868/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Mayor</a></b>: What do you mean, "biblical"? <i>[skip]</i><b><br /></b><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Dr Ray Stantz</a></b>: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!<br /><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000601/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Dr. Egon Spengler</a></b>: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...<br /><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001368/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Winston Zeddemore</a></b>: The dead rising from the grave!<br /><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000195/" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153); ">Dr. Peter Venkman</a></b>: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Rogers hasn't risen to quite the same level of drama... but <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20091216/METRO/912160355/1409/METRO/Granholm--Illinois-prison-better-for-Gitmo-detainees--Standish-may-get-Pa.-inmates">he's close</a>:</div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Obama's decision was criticized by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, who called it a "dangerous gamble."</span><p></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Terrorists with one mission in life, to kill Americans and destroy America, do not belong in state prisons, no matter whether it is Michigan, Kansas, Illinois or any other state," Rogers said.</span></p></blockquote><p>Apparently Mr. Rogers has no confidence in federal law enforcement and corrections personnel. </p><p>Nor does he seem to know that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, there are already <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2219268/">216 international terrorists and 139 domestic terrorists</a> housed in maximum security facilities, some of whom have been there since the 1990s. <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2219268/">Fred Kaplan of Slate Magazine</a> wrote about these prisoners back in the springtime, and he could have been talking about Mr. Rogers (or his heart-palpitatin' colleague Pete Hoekstra) when he wrote this:</p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:16px;"></span></p><p style="font: normal normal normal 0.75em/1.5em Verdana; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 36px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 36px; ">Maybe these people don't understand what life is like in these "supermax" prisons. Take <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/13/supermax.btsc/index.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">ADX Florence</a>, the supermax in Colorado—"<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article713240.ece" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 102, 204); outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">the Alcatraz of the Rockies</a>"—that serves as the home to Omar Abdel-Rahman, the "blind sheikh" who organized the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; Zacarias Moussaoui, one of the Sept. 11 plotters; Richard Reid, the shoe-bomber; Theodore Kaczynski, the "Unabomber"; and Terry Nichols, who helped plan the Oklahoma City bombing, to name a few.</p><p style="font: normal normal normal 0.75em/1.5em Verdana; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 12px; padding-right: 36px; padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 36px; ">These are all truly dangerous people, but it's not as if they run into one another in the lunch line or the yard. There <em>is </em>no lunch line; there <em>is</em> no yard. Most of the prisoners are kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. For one hour, they're taken to another concrete room, indoors, to exercise, by themselves. Their only windows face the sky, so they have no way of knowing even where they are within the prison. Phone calls to the outside world are banned. Finally, the prison is crammed with cameras and motion detectors. Compartments are separated by 1,400 remote-controlled steel doors; the place is surrounded by 12-foot-high razor-wire fences; the area between the wire and the walls is further secured by laser beams and attack dogs.</p><p></p><p>Got that? </p><p>Mr. Rogers has spent nearly a decade on the House Intel Committee; he's also a former FBI agent. You;d think that his national security expertise would outweigh his political concerns. </p><p>Unfortunately, that's not the case. </p><p>Rogers' main contribution to our nation's security? That would be his tireless efforts to predict doooooooom in front of any available microphone or tv camera. He pitched a fit about <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/still-bananas-over-miranda.html">Mirandizing terrorists</a> -- and pretty much called the Director of the FBI and <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2009/06/if-its-on-fox-it-must-be-true.html">General David Petraeus</a> liars. He blamed Congress for not paying attention to <a href="http://rogerswatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/gimme-i-gimme-r-gimme-a-and-n.html">Iran's nuclear buildup</a>, conveniently forgetting that he is IN Congress and has been on the House Intel Committee since he was first elected in 2000. He got in a lather about the decision to discontinue the <a href="http://mikerogers.house.gov/newsroom.aspx?A=600">Eastern European missile defense shield</a>, but he still hasn't asked those "very tough questions" he promised.</p><p>Mr. Rogers is unstinting in his efforts to get good media coverage -- but when it comes to the hard work of making sure our country is safe, he's kind of a marshmallow.</p><p><img src="http://www.angelfire.com/movies/GodzillaTower/Pictures/marshmallowman1.jpg" /></p><p><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/movies/GodzillaTower/Documents/Marshmallow_Man.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">http://www.angelfire.com/movies/GodzillaTower/Documents/Marshmallow_Man.htm</span></span></a></p></div></div>Kelster93http://www.blogger.com/profile/09118109010645007794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2725250747099235754.post-8905493127811405102009-12-07T10:38:00.002-05:002009-12-07T10:40:17.613-05:00Rogers continues to deny the fact that global warming is a fact on behalf of Big Oil masters<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-7MGrm8dQU/Sx0g-1b-CJI/AAAAAAAAC1k/rCh6xtrCei0/s1600-h/polarbear_lifejacket_CFXXq_18722.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1-7MGrm8dQU/Sx0g-1b-CJI/AAAAAAAAC1k/rCh6xtrCei0/s320/polarbear_lifejacket_CFXXq_18722.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412518591037573266" /></a><br />After some nine years of Mike Rogers in Congress, the only thing we know for sure about the Brighton Republican is that he <a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2007/08/rogers-serves-as-bush-apologist-for-ag.html">toes the GOP line </a>until its no longer popular to dos so. His press release on the stolen emails from the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia that critics have dubiously claimed undermine the scientific consensus on climate change is just one more example.<br /><br />Rogers backed every single <a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2007/05/rogers-threat-stunt-garners-attention.html">Bush position </a>until the approval ratings of the worst president in U.S. history plunged like a rock, and Rogers abandoned him like a rat from a sinking ship. Now, he has sunk to the role of just criticizing and blocking every solution to the problems his party created. <br /><br /><a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2009/01/p-as-tradition-of-rogerss-cheerleading.html">His press release printed almost verbatim</a> in the <a href="http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20091204/NEWS01/912040315/1002/News-Briefs-Rogers-requests-global-warming-data-probe">Livingston County Daily Press & Argus</a> is parroting the rightwing lie that global warming is a hoax. “He joined fellow congressional Republicans who raised questions about leaked e-mails from the researchers.”<br /><br />First, they were not “leaked e-mails” they were stolen. Global warming deniers are basically taking one word out of context among 13 years of personal emails to prove their point. They ignore all the data from other agencies, like NASA, to make their case. <br /><br />For years, thousands of scientists working at climate research centers throughout the world have carefully and rigorously reached a consensus on the extent of climate change, the urgency of the problem, and the role of human activity in causing it. A few distorted e-mail exchanges do not change that consensus. <br /><br />In fact, last month Gavin Schmidt, a climate scientist at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, supported that claim: "There's nothing in the e-mails that shows that global warming is a hoax. ... There's no funding by nefarious groups. There's no politics in any of these things; nobody from the [United Nations] telling people what to do. There's nothing hidden, no manipulation. It's just scientists talking about science, and they're talking relatively openly as people in private e-mails generally are freer with their thoughts than they would be in a public forum. The few quotes that are being pulled out [are out] of context. People are using language used in science and interpreting it in a completely different way." <br /><br /><a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2007/01/rogers-again-side-with-big-oil-and-big.html">Rogers is a very good friend of big oil</a>, and, in fact, he voted against ending taxpayer-funded subsidies for Big Oil and creating a Strategic Energy and Renewables Reserve. Is it any surprise he is a global warming denier? The right-wing groups leading the charge in attacking the science are the same old Big Oil-backed naysayers and their allies in Congress -<a href="http://liberalmedianot.blogspot.com/2007/05/rogers-votes-with-big-oil-against.html">like Rogers</a>- who have been attacking climate science and fighting clean energy for decades. <br /><br />The U.S. Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency have identified climate change as a threat to our national security and have developed specific efforts to combat climate change. <br /><br />The real indicator is the results of global warming. How to you ignore or lie that away? <br /><br />According to a recent article by the <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjrkevVWHdM8rWorsC2E8mUvBPzgD9C4NKU80">Associated Press</a>, “Since 1997 climate change has worsened and accelerated – beyond some of the grimmest of warnings made back then.” <br />The world's oceans have risen by about an inch and a half. <br /><br />Droughts and wildfires have turned more severe worldwide, from the U.S. West to Australia to the Sahel desert of North Africa. Species now in trouble because of changing climate include, not just the lumbering polar bear which has become a symbol of global warming, but also fragile butterflies, colorful frogs and entire stands of North American pine forests. Temperatures over the past 12 years are 0.4 of a degree warmer than the dozen years leading up to 1997. Even the gloomiest climate models back in the 1990s didn't forecast results quite this bad so fast. <br /><br />Scientists have uncovered a large expanse of "corrosive" water in the Canadian Arctic due to carbon pollution that is putting the marine food web at risk. "Unprecedented" rainfall in the United Kingdom has led to flooding of "biblical proportions" – a predicted consequence of global warming. "Unprecedented" heat, drought, and winds are causing "catastrophic" wildfires to sweep across eastern Australia – a predicted consequence of global warming. <br /><br />The 2000s are on track to be nearly 0.2°C warmer than the 1990s. And that temperature jump is especially worrisome since the 1990s were only 0.14°C warmer than the 1980s. The world’s glaciers shrink for the 18th year. According to the University of Zurich ’s World Glacier Monitoring Service report in 2006 and 2007 the world’s glaciers lost 2 meters (2000 mm) of thickness on average. They note, “The new data continues the global trend in accelerated ice loss over the past few decades.” The rate of ice loss is twice as fast as a decade ago. Greenhouse gases, which are believed to be responsible for global warming, reached record highs in the Earth’s atmosphere in 2008, according to the U.N. weather agency. <br /><br />The simple fact is Global Warming is real, and a few words taken out of context from thousands of stolen emails cannot change that fact. Even if you wanted to impeach the results from the CRU at the University of East Anglia, there are plenty of other respected scientists above reproach who hold the same position reached by independent and undisputed research and data. Here are a few:<br /><br /><strong>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</strong>: Global warming of the climate system is unequivocal and most of the observed increase in global temperatures since the mid-20th century is due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. <br /><br /><strong>National Academy of Sciences</strong>: Even if carbon dioxide emissions were halted today, the world would continue warming with “irreversible” effects — including rising temperatures and sea levels—that will last for a millennium. <br /><br /><strong>American Association for the Advancement of Science</strong>: The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. <br /><br /><strong>U.S. Global Change Research Program</strong>: Global temperature has increased over the past 50 years. This observed increase is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases. <br /><br /><strong>American Physical Society</strong>: Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth’s climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes. The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring. If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now. <br /><br /><strong>American Meteorological Society</strong>: Despite the uncertainties noted above, there is adequate evidence from observations and interpretations of climate simulations to conclude that the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface are warming; that humans have significantly contributed to this change; and that further climate change will continue to have important impacts on human societies, on economies, on ecosystems, and on wildlife through the 21st century and beyond. <br /><br /><strong>American Geophysical Union</strong>: The Earth’s climate is now clearly out of balance and is warming. Many components of the climate system—including the temperatures of the atmosphere, land and ocean, the extent of sea ice and mountain glaciers, the sea level, the distribution of precipitation, and the length of seasons—are now changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural and are best explained by the increased atmospheric abundances of greenhouse gases and aerosols generated by human activity during the 20th century. . . . Evidence from most oceans and all continents except Antarctica shows warming attributable to human activities. <br /><br /><strong>American Quaternary Association</strong>: Few credible scientists now doubt that humans have influenced the documented rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. <br /><br /><strong>The national science academies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa</strong>: It is essential that world leaders agree on the emission reductions needed to combat negative consequences of anthropogenic climate change at the UNFCCC negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009. <br /><br />A group of 18 leading scientific organizations recently sent a letter to Senators affirming that climate change is happening.Communications guruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15039487955952973487noreply@blogger.com1